Alumni recruiting strengthens UConn community

Laughter, smiles and sometimes a few tears generally fill the celebratory hours of graduation day. Today, that upbeat air should continue when the keynote speaker delivers his address to family and close friends, as well as the students themselves, the graduating class of 2004.

UConn saw no need to look far to find this year's speaker, as Dr. John W. Rowe, chairman of the Board of Trustees, as well as chairman and CEO of Aetna Inc., a major national healthcare provider based in Connecticut, was ready for the job. Surely Rowe will emphasize post-graduate adult life in the real world, the dangers and freedoms alike.

Many students see it as a fear that graduation makes finding a permanent job a growing necessity. Rowe, through his experience as a medical professional, will offer advice learned first-hand and give the students confidence in their readiness to become independent.

Because of his close involvement with economics through the Aetna insurance corporation, Rowe understands graduates' anxieties about the damaged, but slowly growing job market as well as the hardships faced by young adults becoming acclimated to the real world. Rowe, therefore, has been presented with an opportunity, through his connection between UConn and the business world, to open the job market to new recruits.

The UConn Foundation continuously undertakes the enormous task of contacting alumni and collecting donations to the university. Fortunately, many of those alumni have, since graduation, become successful. Though donations that improve the university are well appreciated, an increase in on-campus recruiting, rather than mere "how to write a resume" seminars would benefit the students equally.

Recruiting through alumni not only gives students increased chances of finding supportive post-graduation employment, but also strengthens the UConn community. Students, understanding the opportunities before them, are given greater incentive to work toward goals. Once hired, the UConn community extends beyond the bounds of the university and employers and employees would build stronger relationships in the workplace.

Although UConn chose not to bring a politician or major celebrity to campus for graduation this year, it chose for its commencement address one of its own, a brilliant man with pages-long medical credentials as well as an immensely successful business career. For the students ready to take on the responsibility of finding work, Rowe's words and life should hit home.